Skiing

Winter side trips can put you in the center of outstanding skiing in the Cascade Mountain Range. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy downhill runs, snowboarding, or cross-country trails.

A two hour drive east to Crystal Mountain and White Pass are the two ski areas at Mt. Rainier. With an annual snowfall of over 350 inches, Crystal ski lifts take you to over 50 runs including the 2.5 mile Northway with a 3,100 foot vertical drop. There are gentle groomed cruising runs for families and backcountry areas for cross-country skiers too. To make it a week-end getaway, check out one of the three hotels at Crystal.

Over at White Pass look for a more kicked-back, slightly off the beaten path sort of ski area. Located up Highway 12 from Chehalis to the west and Yakima to the east skiers enjoy downhill and snowboarding both night and day! Lifts take skiers to 36 designated trails. .

A short 60 miles east of Seattle on Interstate 90 is the ski complex at Snoqualmie Summit. Three different areas offer mountain terrain for every type of winter sport. .

Summit West features a great learning environment including a magic carpet for young skiers. Night skiing is a favorite for boarders here. Summit Central has every type of terrain for every type of ability and easier access thanks to a heated walkway and high-speed chairlift. When it’s time for lunch, Central has lots of choices for food and drink. .

Summit East is Nordic Central. There's consistent fall line terrain, some really nice glade runs and 50 kilometers of skate and classic groomed trails. And let’s not forget the snow tubers. The whole family can enjoy groomed lanes and surface tows back up the hill. .

Alpental is nearby and is perhaps the most beautiful and most challenging area in the state. With well over 400 inches of snow a year the area has powder that is renowned for the black and double black diamond runs off of Edelweiss Chair. .

The other major highway through the Cascades is scenic Highway 2. Your day in the snow is just 78 miles east of Seattle and 58 miles west of Wenatchee at Stevens Pass. .

Stevens is located on two national forests, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie on the west side of the crest and the Wenatchee National Forest on the east. The Cowboy Mountain ski base is at a magnificent 5,845 feet elevation and gives a commanding view of the mountain peaks as you ride the chairlift. You can enjoy night skiing on 6 lighted runs and still drive two hours back to the city. .

Located on what the locals call the sunny side of the mountains is Mission Ridge Ski Resort. Just twelve miles outside of Wenatchee, you’ll find a total of 4 lifts that get you 2,250 feet above the Columbia River valley floor. .

If you want the most snow for your ski experience, go to Mt. Baker. They have had as much as 650 inches in a single year. The most northerly of the Washington Ski areas, Mt. Baker is two and a half hours drive from Seattle, two hours from Vancouver, B.C. and 75 minutes from Bellingham. Ski areas at Heather Meadows are at 4,300 feet with White Salmon at 3,500. There are 8 chairs to get to up the mountain for runs though a variety of terrain.

Just across the Canadian border is the premier ski area of the region. Whistler

Blackcomb Resort gives you two ‘mile high’ mountain peaks to ski. Just 75 miles from Vancouver, British Columbia, you’ll ski Whistler Blackcomb with over 8,100 skiable acres, 200 trails, 38 lifts, three glaciers and twelve alpine bowls. Yes, it is big and host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Whistler has Cross-Country Skiing through areas like scenic Lost Lake Park, guided snowcat backcountry skiing or snowboarding at Powder Mountain. The Base 2 Zone Tube Park features eight lanes of runs for family fun.

You may want to consider taking a clear day off the slopes for a scenic flight over Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains, the Village and peaks, rivers and glacier fed lakes in Garibaldi Park.

Whistler Village at the base of the mountains invites skiers to enjoy shops and boutiques with great collections of fashions, gear and souvenirs.

Lodges, hotels, inns, spas and suites circle the Village. Choose from a collection of restaurants and clubs designed to satisfy you after a busy day on the slopes. There really is adventure for every level of fun in the snow at this world-renowned resort.

And, I must admit, there is just as much fun during the summer at Whistler what with hiking, biking, and a full range of outdoor activities.